What's new
Christian Community Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate fully in the fellowship here, including adding your own topics and posts, as well as connecting with other members through your own private inbox!

Elite Stars Reportedly Secretly Shelling Out Big Bucks For Private Firefighters To Protect Their Homes

The rich and famous are reportedly forking over a significant amount of money to private firefighters in an effort to protect their multi-million dollar homes.

Los Angeles millionaires are allegedly spending upwards of $2,000 an hour to secure for-hire firefighters to protect their properties while parts of the city are consumed by the raging wildfires, according to the Daily Mail. Strong opinions are being formed about those taking extra measures to ensure their assets are protected amid the devastating flames and the companies that are being hired. Chris Dunn, owner of Covered 6, a private company that offers its services to the elite, said business is booming.

Private firefighting firms are reportedly offering “on call” services to the elite in need. David Torgerson’s Wildfire Defense Systems offers privately secured water supplies, hoses and fire-blocking gels and chemicals designed to deter the raging flames, according to the Los Angeles Times.


Complete Article

 
I don't begrudge anyone doing everything they can to protect their property. I think there is some kind of fire retardant foam that a house can be covered with. Private firefighters are probably smart enough to store tanks of water. They might even collect water from precipitation.
I suppose most firefighters would jump at the chance for $2,000.00 an hour to take the job and take their time on the job to make the $2000.00 per hour worth their while
 
Pumper trucks carry water. The private FF may also have tankers.

Bet most of those homes have swimming pools, from which the pumpers can get water.
Some of those houses probably also have below-ground cisterns full of water.
Bet a lot of those houses have sprinkler systems, which are likely hooked into cisterns and/or swimming pools.

FF foam. Specialty products for electronics, etc.

Old fashioned fire flappers, shovels, rakes, etc. to put out embers, sparks, and small fires to prevent them from becoming destructive.

Some roofs and building materials are more fire resistant than others.

If a large enough no-fire/instant extingishment area can get established, it can be defended better than a single house, so it would make sense for a group of homeowners.


This is no different than people hiring security companies, bodyguards, etc. to supplement what protection they get from regular law enforcement. Or DIY efforts to protect one's property from fire, theft, etc.
 
I suppose most firefighters would jump at the chance for $2,000.00 an hour to take the job and take their time on the job to make the $2000.00 per hour worth their while

So long as it doesn't interfere with the primary job.

No different than cops moonlighting. I always got paid better moonlighting, but it couldn't interfere with my regular duties (to include injury, legal issues, sleep deprivation, etc.). Most places I worked only allowed 20 hours per week moonlighting.


All the fire fighters there, regardless of volunteer, public paid, or private paid are likely working themselves to exhaustion doing what they can. The protective gear, alone, means frequent breaks needed, so if there's footage of FF sitting down, eating, even just standing and talking, they need to recharge so they can go do some more. Going until one becomes a casualty or can't think well from exhaustion, dehydration, sleep deprivation, etc. doesn't do anyone any good, and puts others in danger when the too-tired/exhausted person makes a serious mistake and/or has to be rescued and evacuated.
 
There are likely fire fighters, who don't work for public employers, working for the private companies. It's likely not just public fire fighters moonlighting. The private companies probably hire a lot of retired fire fighters, both military and civilian.

Agree that anyone leaving his or her public/government post without good cause AND PERMISSION from supervisor should be fired AND professional license(s) revoked permanently.
Good cause doesn't include secondary employment.

Good cause might be a seriously injured spouse or child not expected to live until the public employee got there without leaving early.
And even then, the employee should return as soon as possible, in accordance with regulations, law, and what the supervisor said. Depending on the person's job, it might not be reasonable to remain after the family member's death to wait for Coroner/Medical Examiner, funeral home to arrive, etc.
 
@1LoverofGod

I liked your previous post, especially the part about public employees not supposed to leave during a declared state of emergency and that they should be dismissed for doing so. I hope you put it back up because it made a lot of sense :)

There's no excuse for public employees derelicting their public duties for any reason, especially for personal enrichment, and most especially if it harms or could harm the people they're hired and sworn to serve.
 
FWIW, if the private FF companies are anything like private security companies, the homeowners may pay $2000 an hour, but the FF, themselves, don't make anywhere near that. Those companies have the same expenses as publicly funded and volunteer FF organizations do . . . equipment, training, consumables, maintenance, insurance, licensing, facilities, administration, etc. Given how expensive FF equipment and maintenance of it is, plus having to replace it after loss, the percentage of what they charge that actually goes to the FF is much smaller than the percentage of what is charged by private security firms that goes to security officers.
 

Private firefighters: Who they are, how much do they cost?​


One of the key differences between public and private fire prevention organizations, both of which offer emergency response services in their local communities, is how they are funded.

They can be contracted by communities to provide firefighting services as well as by certain insurance companies that offer fire fighting services to customers who purchase high-value home insurance policies, according to Frontline Wildfire.

The National Wildfire Suppression Association (NWSA) currently represents more than 250 private sector contract companies across 28 states that can organize a work force of around 10,000 during the height of fire season.

According to the association, private contract resources including national and regional 20-person firefighting crews, engines, dozers, tenders and other specialized equipment and support services give agencies the flexibility they need to increase or decrease support cost-effectively.

Complete Article

 

Private firefighters: Who they are, how much do they cost?​


One of the key differences between public and private fire prevention organizations, both of which offer emergency response services in their local communities, is how they are funded.

They can be contracted by communities to provide firefighting services as well as by certain insurance companies that offer fire fighting services to customers who purchase high-value home insurance policies, according to Frontline Wildfire.

The National Wildfire Suppression Association (NWSA) currently represents more than 250 private sector contract companies across 28 states that can organize a work force of around 10,000 during the height of fire season.

According to the association, private contract resources including national and regional 20-person firefighting crews, engines, dozers, tenders and other specialized equipment and support services give agencies the flexibility they need to increase or decrease support cost-effectively.

Complete Article

I imagine that even though the elite can hire these costly private firefighters it can benefit everyone else in that by containing fire from their homes it does help prevent the spread of the fires elsewhere.
 
Back
Top